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Virgin Media Television has announced that it has secured free-to-air rights to broadcast Munster’s upcoming match against South Africa ‘A’ at Páirc Uí Chaoimh next Thursday (November 10).
It is the first time in six years that Munster have faced a touring team, and the first time in the professional era that they take on a South African touring side with the last meeting taking place in 1970.
The sides have met on three previous occasions with South Africa winning all three, and as such they remain the only major touring outfit the province have yet to claim victory against.
South Africa’s European tour will see the World champions play four Test matches against Ireland, France, Italy, and England, while the South Africa ‘A’ squad, coached by Mzwandile Stick, will play both Munster and Bristol Bears in important midweek fixtures.
Munster versus South Africa ‘A’ is one of a number of exciting rugby matches to be broadcast free-to-air on Virgin Media Television this month, with all three of Ireland’s 2022 Bank of Ireland Nations Series games at the Aviva Stadium also being televised.
The Munster-South Africa ‘A’ match is being presented in association with Munster Rugby partner, Pinergy.
NewsComments Off on Ireland Team Named For Bank Of Ireland Nations Series Opener Against World Champions
Nov042022
The Ireland coaching team have named the Match Day 23 to take on reigning world champions South Africa in the opening fixture of the Bank of Ireland Nations Series at Aviva Stadium on Saturday (Kick-off 5.30pm, live on Virgin Media and Amazon Prime).
Conor Murray is set to earn his 100th cap for Ireland and is one of just five players in the starting team that started the last game between the two sides in 2017. Tadhg Furlong, Robbie Henshaw, Peter O’Mahony and Johnny Sexton were the other players to start against the Springbok five years ago.
Cian Healy, who is named on the bench for Saturday’s game, also started the 2017 game while Rob Herring, James Ryan and Joey Carbery were among the replacements that day.
Tadhg Beirne and Jack Conan have never played for Ireland against South Africa but featured against the Springboks for the British and Irish Lions in the 2021 Test Series. Furlong, Henshaw and Murray also played in that Test Series.
Finlay Bealham has experience of playing the Boks as he was a replacement in the second Test against South Africa in Johannesburg on the 2016 Tour.
Whereas Robert Baloucoune, Caelan Doris, Jamison Gibson Park, Mack Hansen, Hugo Keenan, Stuart McCloskey, Andrew Porter, Garry Ringrose, Dan Sheehan, Kieran Treadwell and Josh van der Flier have never faced South Africa at senior level.
Baloucoune missed the Summer Tour of New Zealand through injury but started against both the Griquas and the Cheetahs for Emerging Ireland last month.
Ireland captain Sexton will make his 109th appearance for Ireland this Saturday, becoming the country’s fifth most capped player of all time pushing current Forwards Coach Paul O’Connell into sixth position.
Nathan Doak, Tom Stewart and Stewart Moore have now joined the extended squad.
NewsComments Off on IRELAND ‘A’ Team & Replacements (v All Blacks XV, ‘A’ International Match, the RDS, Friday, November 4, kick-off 7.45pm)
Nov042022
The Ireland coaching group have named the Ireland ‘A’ team to play the All Blacks XV at the RDS on Friday (kick-off 7.45pm – live on Virgin Media Two/Virgin Media Player). Tickets are available here.
The Ireland ‘A’ side features 12 players who played against the M?ori All Blacks during the summer tour of New Zealand – Craig Casey, Gavin Coombes, Ciaran Frawley, Dave Heffernan, James Hume, Jeremy Loughman, Michael Lowry, Joe McCarthy, Jimmy O’Brien, Tom O’Toole, Cian Prendergast and Nick Timoney.
20-year-old centre Jamie Osborne is one of three from the Emerging Ireland squad in the starting XV, alongside forwards Prendergast and McCarthy.
Diarmuid Barron, Jack Crowley, Max Deegan and Calvin Nash, who were also on the Emerging Ireland tour to South Africa, are included on the replacements bench.
Craig Casey will captain the ‘A’ team which features Jacob Stockdale, who last lined out for Ireland against Japan in July 2021, while among the replacements is Martin Moore whose last game for Ireland was against Scotland back in March 2015.
Speaking ahead of the game, Ireland head coach Andy Farrell said: “We’ve got plenty of information about the opposition as individuals. The lads will be well across that. They sure know the experience that the All Blacks XV have got in their side.
“The amount of caps that they’ve got with the captain (42-times capped lock Patrick Tuipulotu) there, and with (Damian) McKenzie and (TJ) Perenara, etc. We know the experience that they’ve got and what they’re going to show.
“We also know that our lads watch plenty of Super Rugby, so that these lads they’re playing against on Friday night are the next cabs off the rank as far as the All Blacks side is concerned.
“Their depth is pretty deep as well, so we know that they are going to be very strong and a big step up from the M?ori game.
“At the same time, our lads came in last Sunday and they’ve had a couple of training sessions. We expect them to be up to speed, so most of the concentration has been on ourselves in that regard.”
He added: “Craig was an obvious choice for us as captain. We approached the subject straight away and it was unanimous that it was going to be Craig. Why? Because it’s him just being himself. He’s a natural leader.
“Just the way that he handles himself on a daily basis in and around everyone. He’s the ultimate professional, he prepares really well.
“He’s been in and around this (Ireland) environment for some time now so the responsibility is a nice step in his journey as well.”
We have done a 50/50 or split the bucket for our two home games.
Ger Hehir won 100 euro at the Omagh Match and Joe Kelly won 120 euro at the Skerries Match.
We will do this again for the Ballina match. If you are not going to the game, you can participate by
Contacting 0863744980
The cost is 5 euro and like the 2 previous draws the A.I.L Ref will pull the winning name at half time of the Senior Match. Contact me if you are interested.
NewsComments Off on AIL Preview: Division 2C Week 5.
Nov042022
Bruff V Ballina, Sat November 5th, Kilballyowen Park, 2:30pm
Bruff picked up some valuable points in a losing bonus point defeat to Bangor, back on home soil they will try for a first win against bottom side Ballina.
Bruff performed well in the tie after Bangor, leading 8-7 at one stage before Bangor went over again and built the advantage, but the bonus point loss was enough.
The visitors had a great second half against Instonians but fell to a 33-19 loss last time out, this time around they are looking to take on a team toward the bottom half and get a first win of the year.
Clonmel V Bangor, Sat November 5th, Ardghaoithe, 2:30pm
Bangor look to keep on the tails of Instonains if they can get a positive outcome against ninth placed Clonmel.
Their tie with Skerries was dramatic and entertaining, both scoring three tries in the opening half to tie the game 21-21 at the interval. But Clonmel wilted in the second half and had to accept the loss.
Bangor, not at their glittering best last weekend, got a result that keeps them second by a point, six off the leaders they need something this weekend if they want to be in the 2C title picture.
Midleton V Skerries, Sat November 5th, Towns Park, 2:30pm
Skerries will look to keep their spot in the top four as they travel to meet sixth placed Midleton.
Midleton faltered in their tie with Tullamore last weekend, signs were on for Midleton as they commanded the opening half to lead 12-6 at the break, however they had no reply in the second half.
Skerries high scoring bonus point win over Clonmel was exactly what they needed to show life to their promotion ambitions, another victory this weekend will keep their hopes alive.
Omagh Academicals V Tullamore, Sat November 5th, Thomas Mellon Playing Fields, 2:30pm
Omagh have a chance at making the top four if they can knock out their adversaries who sit in third place this weekend.
Omagh looked one step ahead of Sundays Well as they recorded their second consecutive home win of the season, they could have a third this weekend as their home form has been strong so far.
Tullamore got their win last weekend, they won the second half which got them over the line but did have a slow start to the tie and Omagh could be a worthy test for them this weekend.
Sundays Well V Instonians, Sat November 5th, Musgrave Park, 2:30pm
Five weeks, five wins? That is the question put to Instonians this weekend as they travel to Munster to meet eight placed Sundays Well.
Well were left chasing their tie with Omagh last weekend, despite having only lost by nine points, the scoreline could have been less but they will hope to stay close to their opponents.
Four wins and four bonus points, the Instonians train is full steam ahead as they look untouchable at the moment, form dictates they should get the points over the side in 8th but you can never tell what will happen in the AIL. –These notes come courtesy of DIARMUID KEARNEY
